18 Amarnath Yatris hurt in Ramban highway pile-up on Jammu-Srinagar NH
Synopsis
A four-vehicle chain collision struck an Amarnath Yatra convoy at Langar Point in Ramban on 13 July, injuring 18 pilgrims — 8 still unidentified. With over 2.45 lakh pilgrims already on the route and 46 days of the Yatra remaining, the incident puts a spotlight on the accident-prone Ramban stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
Key Takeaways
18 Amarnath Yatris were injured in a multi-vehicle collision at Langar Point, Chanderkote, Ramban on 13 July 2026 .
The pile-up involved two SRTC buses, a car, and a private bus within a Pahalgam-bound convoy.
All 18 injured pilgrims sustained minor injuries and are stable at District Hospital Ramban .
10 of the injured have been identified; 8 remain unidentified.
The Shri Amarnath Yatra 2026 runs from 3 July to 28 August ; over 2.45 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine so far.
Police have taken cognisance; investigation into the accident is underway.
Eighteen Amarnath Yatris were injured on Monday, 13 July after a multi-vehicle pile-up struck a Pahalgam-bound convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Langar Point, Chanderkote in Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir. All injured pilgrims were shifted to District Hospital Ramban, where authorities confirmed they sustained minor injuries and remain stable.
How the Accident Unfolded
According to officials, the chain collision was triggered when SRTC bus JK01Y-1044 struck SRTC bus JK01Y-1052. The impact pushed the second bus into car JK21K-8115, which in turn collided with private bus JK02CL-5499. The sequence involved four vehicles in total and occurred within the moving pilgrim convoy.
Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was briefly disrupted following the incident. Police have taken cognisance and an investigation is underway.
Who Was Injured
Ten of the 18 injured pilgrims have been identified. They include Harsh Rajput, 23, and Vishal Gupta, 18, and Pankaj Suvankar, 23 — all from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh; Suhaas Jeevan Mowade, 29, from Yavatmal, Maharashtra; Bharat Bhushan, 45, from Ganganagar, Rajasthan; Vinod Kumar, 51, from Sattasar, Bikaner, Rajasthan; Kiran, 48, wife of Vinod Bagla, from Rajasthan; Seema Rani, 50, wife of Akshay Kumar, from Punjab; Pawan Kumar, 67, from Rajasthan; and Ganga Sinha, 41, from Rajasthan. The remaining 8 injured pilgrims are yet to be identified.
Yatra 2026: Scale and Context
The Shri Amarnath Yatra 2026 commenced on 3 July and is scheduled to conclude on 28 August — a 57-day pilgrimage coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Since the Yatra began, more than 2.45 lakh pilgrims have had Darshan at the holy cave shrine, situated 3,880 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas.
This comes amid heightened security and logistical arrangements along the highway, which serves as the primary artery for the annual pilgrimage. The Ramban stretch — a known accident-prone zone due to its sharp curves and steep gradients — has witnessed multiple incidents in previous Yatra seasons as well.
What Happens Next
Authorities have initiated a formal inquiry into the sequence of events leading to the collision. The condition of all 18 injured pilgrims is reported as stable, and the Yatra is expected to continue without interruption. Officials are likely to review convoy spacing and driver protocols on the Ramban segment in the wake of the incident.
Point of View
Hairpin bends, and convoy density create conditions where a single braking error cascades into a multi-vehicle pile-up. That all 18 injured escaped with minor injuries is fortunate, but the pattern demands more than post-incident inquiries. With 2.45 lakh pilgrims already on the route and over six weeks of the Yatra remaining, convoy spacing protocols and driver fatigue management on this specific stretch deserve urgent administrative attention — not just this season, but as a standing reform.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Amarnath Yatris in Ramban on 13 July 2026?
A four-vehicle chain collision injured 18 Amarnath pilgrims at Langar Point, Chanderkote in Ramban district on 13 July 2026. The accident occurred within a Pahalgam-bound convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway; all 18 sustained minor injuries and are stable.
Which vehicles were involved in the Ramban accident?
The collision involved two SRTC buses (JK01Y-1044 and JK01Y-1052), a car (JK21K-8115), and a private bus (JK02CL-5499). The first SRTC bus struck the second, triggering a chain reaction that pulled in the car and private bus.
How many pilgrims have visited Amarnath shrine in 2026 so far?
More than 2.45 lakh pilgrims have had Darshan at the Amarnath cave shrine since the Yatra began on 3 July 2026. The shrine is located 3,880 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas.
When does Amarnath Yatra 2026 end?
The Shri Amarnath Yatra 2026 is scheduled to conclude on 28 August 2026, after 57 days. The closing date coincides with Shravan Purnima and the Raksha Bandhan festival.
What action has been taken after the Ramban highway accident?
Police have taken cognisance of the accident and a formal investigation is underway. All 18 injured pilgrims were shifted to District Hospital Ramban and are reported to be in stable condition.
